Replacing potatoes with legumes and other vegetables can reduce the risk of gestational diabetes.

Potatoes are one of the most common food ingredients used worldwide and are an integral part of Indian diet. They are an instant source of energy owing to its high starch content but they are also associated with weight gain and other metabolic disorders. Even if they have numerous health benefits, a new study has linked them with gestational diabetes. The study published in The British Medical Journal says that even though potatoes are rich in vitamin C, potassium they can have detrimental effects on glucose material because they contain an enormous amount of rapidly absorbable starch. (Read: 7 reasons potatoes or aaloo are great for your health)

Potatoes and gestational diabetes

Potatoes have been previously linked to high insulin resistance, increased concentration of plasma glucose and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Gestational diabetes is characterised by glucose intolerance that is first diagnosed during pregnancy. The study says that a diet with high glycemic index increases the plasma glucose levels and also increase HbA1c levels during pregnancy and thereby increase the risk of gestational diabetes. (Read: 5 simple steps to prevent gestational diabetes)

The researchers analysed the association between potato consumption and gestational diabetes by observing data from The Nurses’ health study which has analysed 116430 nurses aged 24-44 between 1991 and 2001. the study found that of 21,693 single foetus pregnancies, 4% of women developed gestational diabetes. In the study, women were asked to fill a questionnaire which recorded their consumption of potato a year prior to their pregnancy rating the intake from ‘never or less than once a month’ to ‘six portions per day’.

it is a common complication of pregnancy and has adverse effects on the foetus or the baby. It is also associated with increased long-term cardiometabolic risk in both the baby and the mother.

What should one replace potatoes with?

The researchers say that dietary changes and exercise are must to prevent the complications of gestational diabetes. The study also reported that substituting two servings per week of potatoes with the same amount of other vegetables or legumes or whole grain foods can reduce the risk approximately by 10%.

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